United Kingdom (English)Earth Day, celebrated globally every year on April 22nd, serves as a day to remind ourselves to protect and preserve this planet that we call home. Let’s take a look at findings from Ipsos' annual Earth Day report, which provides insights on how attitudes and actions towards climate change are evolving in the United Kingdom. Also, celebrated each year on June 5th, we have World Environment Day, all good to pair with Earth Day, since overall we share the same land, waters and atmosphere.
Earth Day 2024 | World Environment Day 2024
Protecting the Planet: Whose Job Is It?
One of the most striking revelations from the Earth Day 2024 report is United Kingdom's shifting perception of responsibility. Just less than two-thirds of Britons (61%) feel they would be failing future generations by not taking action on climate change. This represents a decrease from 66% in 2022. Although fewer individuals feel a personal responsibility to combat climate change, British people are increasingly placing the duty on businesses (58% agree) and the UK government (60% agree) to lead the charge.
Can Everyday Changes Really Help?
Still, a bit less than two-thirds of Britons (62%) are optimistic that if everyone made small changes in their everyday lives it could have a big impact on tackling climate change.
Need some ideas on where to start? This year, Earthday.org’s theme is Planet vs. Plastics, aimed at reducing plastic waste from single-use plastics, fast fashion, and more. Here are a few of their suggestions on how to avoid ingesting microplastics:
- Sweep or vacuum as much as possible in your home because dust is full of plastic fibers and particles.
- Reduce single-use plastic water bottles, which can contain up to 240 000 nano particles of plastic per bottle.
- Try to avoid microwaving your food in plastic containers because the heat releases plastic chemicals, like BPA, into your food.
- Opt to include leafy vegetables in your recipes, as they may contain less microplastics than root vegetables.
- Limit wearing polyester, a textile made of plastic which sheds microplastic fibers that you could end up breathing in.
Enjoying Earth Day and Environment Day
Wherever you are, be sure to take a moment today to appreciate the beauty of nature all around you. Even a simple walk in the park serves as a wonderful reminder that we’re all connected to this incredible planet. When it comes to protecting Earth, every small step makes a big difference. Together, we can create a brighter future!
The Ipsos information shared in this article has been sourced from: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/earth-day-2024-changing-attitudes-and-actions-towards-climate-change
